Clatsop Community College and Oregon State University (OSU) Clatsop County Extension announce a new series of courses designed to educate coastal residents about growing and food production in our local environment. All classes will be held at Clatsop Community College.

A Grafting Workshop on March 1 from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. will teach students about tools and techniques for grafting fruit trees. Participants will choose apple tree varieties to make five grafted starts to take home. The class fee includes materials needed to make five trees. The instructor is Scott Thompson, the OSU Clatsop County Extension Master Gardener Program Coordinator, with assistance from OSU Clatsop County Master Gardener Association members. The cost is $35.00, and class size is limited to 20 students.

Advanced Berry Cultivation will be taught on March 18 from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Designed for small-scale farmers or the advanced hobbyist, this class will explore aspects of berry production such as varietal selection, disease and insect management, maintaining fruit quality, pruning, and specialized production techniques, all in the context of growing conditions found along the Oregon Coast. The instructor for this class is Joe DeFrancesco, Assistant Professor, OSU North Willamette Research and Extension Center. Cost is $35.00.

The third class in this series, Backyard Chickens, is being planned for late April or early May. This class will cover the basics of raising a backyard flock for subsistence, or for small-scale commercial operations. Topics will include breed selection, selection and care of chicks, techniques for raising meat and egg birds, harvest and marketing.

In addition, the College is again offering the ever popular Beekeeping for Beginners taught by Thom Trusewicz, beekeeper since 2000 and owner/operation of Beehaven Natural Raw Honey Farm. This one-day class is Saturday, March 8 from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Novice beekeepers will learn how to be successful keeping honey bees. Topics covered include bee behaviors, equipment, care of hives, diseases and medications, safety, honey production, marketing and year-round maintenance. Cost is $20 per person or $30 per family. You may pre-register online or by phone or register in class.

Students can register or obtain registration information by calling Clatsop Community College at 503-338-2408, or visit www.clatsopcc.edu/schedule